Micro-lens enhanced element

ABSTRACT

A micro-lens enhanced element comprises a substrate bearing sequences of printed image elements, each sequence containing image elements from more than one image. A transparent spacer layer is coated over the interlaced image strips. Lenticular lenses are fashioned over each sequence of image elements by deposition of a transparent layer of low surface energy polydimethyl siloxane based material and ablation of the same to create strips of material adhesive to a polymeric lens forming material between consecutive sequences of printed image elements. During deposition of a liquid lens forming material, the liquid withdraws from the liquid adhesive low surface energy strips to form a meniscus, thereby providing lenticular lenses. The transparent low surface energy material comprises a near infrared dye with low absorption in the visible range of the spectrum to render the material both transparent and ablateable by infrared laser.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Reference is made to commonly-assigned copending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/950,877, filed Dec. 5, 2007, entitled MICRO-LENS ENHANCEDELEMENT, by Blondal et al.; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/414,732, filed Mar. 31, 2009, entitled MICRO-LENS ENHANCED ELEMENT,by Figov et al.; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to methods and apparatuses forming micro-lensenhanced images and surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Micro-lenses enhanced surfaces can be formed on a variety of surfacesand can be made using any number of materials and processes. A commonform of micro-lens enhanced surface is the lenticular lens sheet. Thelenticular lens sheet comprises a substrate or web with a top surfacehaving a side-by-side array of substantially parallel refractive opticalridges and with a bottom surface that is generally flat.

In application, the lenticular lenses of the lenticular lens sheettypically receive light that passes from the direction of the flatsurface toward the ridges and direct such light in a way that sendsdifferent portions of the light entering each lenticular lens todifferent portions of a viewing area in front of the lenticular lens.This light distribution function is commonly used to enhance viewingangles in rear projection television systems.

The light distribution function is also commonly used in conjunctionwith specially printed interlaced images to achieve various visualeffects including motion effects and depth effects. See for example,commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,383 (Schindler et al.).

The interlaced images used with lenticular lenses typically comprise asubstrate having parallel strips of recorded image information, theimage bearing substrate being arranged to cooperate with the lenticularlenses, typically by affixing or otherwise positioning the image bearingsubstrate proximate to or against the flat surface of the lenticularlenses.

The parallel strips of recorded information represent image informationfrom at least two different images. The interlaced image is typicallythen affixed to the flat surface so as to be viewed through thelenticular lens array. The image information used in forming theinterlaced images is determined so that the lenticular lenses willdirect light from different images toward different portions of aviewing space proximate to the viewing area so that a viewer viewing theimage modulated light from a first portion of the viewing space will seedifferent image information than a viewer viewing the resultant imagefrom another portion of the viewing space.

While such images are popular with consumers it has proven difficult, inpractice, to provide a high quality lenticular lens enhanced article.This is because it is typically quite difficult to fabricate lenticularlenses that have uniformly desirable optical properties.

In some cases, the difficulty in forming such lenticular lens enhancedarticles arises because the manufacture of lenticular lens enhancedarticles requires engraving a master relief pattern and then replicatinglenticular lens sheets from the master. A number of conventionalmanufacturing methods have been developed to produce lenticular lensenhanced articles with the useful optical characteristics. These includemachining, platen press, injection or compression molding, embossment,extrusion, and casting. The materials used to form the lenticular lensesfor such articles include a variety of clear optical materials such asglass and many types of plastics. Each of these prior art methodssuffers inherent problems which render them ineffective for thehigh-volume production of lenticular lens enhanced articles or otherforms of micro-lens enhanced articles.

For example, machining can be used to directly manufacture coarse,one-of-a-kind large lenticular lens enhanced articles such as in thickplastic sheets. Milling machines or lathes can be used with a diamondtip tool having a pre-determined radius. However, machining is a slowand costly process. This method for manufacturing lenticular enhancedsurfaces is not well-suited to volume production.

In another example, a platen press can be used to stamp or emboss anengraved relief pattern into a thermoset material. The temperature ofthe thermoset material is raised to soften the material so that itconforms to the engraved surface. The temperature of the material isreduced to harden the material such that it retains the relief patternwhen removed from the platen press. Like machining, this method is slowand expensive. Furthermore, the sheet size is limited. This method isnot suited for high-volume production or for producing a continuouslength product. Similar problems apply to injection or compressiontechniques for manufacturing molded lenticular lens enhanced articles.

In still another example of a method for manufacturing lenticular lensenhanced articles, extrusion embossment in continuous length roll formis used. Typically, these systems utilize an engraved roller with athread-like screw pitch to the relief pattern. While such techniquesenable relatively high-volume production, the quality and definition ofextrusion relief patterns are generally inferior to patterns obtainableby platen or ultra-violet casting methods.

Extrusion techniques are also commonly used to help manufacturelenticular lens enhanced articles in relatively high-volumes. However,such techniques have difficulty maintaining the absolute parallelism ofthe lenticular rows. Due to the elastic nature of the molten plasticmaterial and the internal stresses imparted by the embossing roller, thesheet has a tendency to change from its impressed shape prior to beingfully set. Additionally, extrusion lenticular sheets can streak due tocondensation, adding to the dimensional distortion and migration of thelenticular surface. These dimensional distortions create optical defectsin the lenticular lenses that result in serious distortions anddegradations in the perceived image. Migration is the tendency of theextruded plastic to move in a direction perpendicular to the directionof lenticulation during the extrusion process. Migration can also createdimensional distortion.

The optical quality of extruded lenticular lenses also suffers from theinfluences of the polymers from which they are formed. Some extrusionsystems attempt to control this problem by curtain coating the polymersto a pre-extruded non-lenticulated web sheet requiring a binder coatingto produce the multi-layered ply-sheet. Curtain coating is a process inwhich a flow of liquid plastic is set by a chill roller. This does notcontrol the migration problem and adds defects such as bubbles,separation of surfaces, and diffusion of images, thus reducing theoptical quality of the lenticular sheet.

Due to fabrication problems such as these, it has been common for manyyears to attempt to modify the process of generating and printing theinterlaced image in various ways in order to conform the interlacedimage to actual measured optical properties of the lenticular lenses.

However, even where this is done, difficulties arise in meeting thechallenge of assembling the lenticular lens array sheets to the printedinterlaced image in proper registration. Typically, these challenges aremet by labor intensive operations.

Some of these assembly issues have been addressed by a photographictechnique using a composite sheet having a back surface coated with aphotosensitive emulsion. The stereoscopic images are obtained asmultiple exposures of the photosensitive emulsion through a lenticularscreen. The composite sheet has a layer of cured thermosetting polymeron one surface of a base polymer film. The patterned lenticular reliefis imposed upon the thermoset layer by curing the thermosetting resinwhile it is wrapped around a molding surface. The technique requiresthat it be used only with continuous roll transparent films. Thedisadvantage of this approach is that only special dedicated equipmentcan produce overall full-width continuous roll transparent films havinglenticular lenses on at least one surface. This of course is a complexand expensive operation that further requires a separate fixing stepduring which the exposed photosensitive material is converted into animage having a generally fixed appearance.

In still another alternative, the challenges of assembly are addressedby directly printing the interlaced image onto the flat surface of thelenticular sheet. This too is challenging and time consuming forconventional printing operations because of needs for greater precision,tight registration of the interlaced image to the lens, and correctionfor press induced distortion of the lens, requiring special printingtechniques, custom equipment, and setup.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,799 (Sandor et al.) describes a method and apparatusfor producing autostereograms using ultraviolet radiation-curablethermosetting polymers. A stereoscopic image is printed upon a plasticor paper sheet, which is fed directly onto a surface having an inverselenticular pattern relief. As the sheet is fed onto the surface, a flowof ultraviolet-curable thermosetting polymer resin is directed at thesurface. Ultraviolet radiation is directed at the polymer layer, curingthe polymer and forming a lenticular array on the front surface of thepolymer layer using a lenticular master consisting of inverse lenticularlenses. During this process, the sheet carrying the stereoscopic imageis bonded to the back surface of the polymer lenticular layer in preciseregistration with the lenticular array. Only those parts of the printedimage requiring micro-lenses are treated in this fashion. Since theprinted image and the lenticular master are both pre-made, thisinvention still faces all the complications associated with alignmentand registration.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,679 (Abdel-Kader) describes a method for formingmicro-lenses on a previously offset-printed image using screen-printing.An optic screen of finely spaced lines is formed as a cured emulsion ona mesh silk-screen. A clear gel is extruded through the mesh screen ontothe front side of a clear plastic sheet, creating an array of lenses. Animage is previously printed on the back side of the plastic sheet usingan offset printer. An optic grid of lines is superimposed in the image.The optic grid has a relationship with the lenses to create specialeffects such as depth enhancement.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,872 (Huffer et al.) provides a method for makingraised resin profile ridges using energy-curable inks and energy-curablecoatings, for example, UV-curable inks and coatings, having differentialsurface tensions or different surface energies. The steps of the methodinclude: (a) providing a transparent substrate sheet having a front anda back; (b) printing an array of substantially parallel lines in atleast one energy-curable ink on the front of the sheet; (c) applying atleast one energy-curable coating over the array printed inenergy-curable ink, the ink and coating being chosen so that sufficientrepulsion is created on contact between the ink and the coating to forman aligned series of contiguous beads of coating material before curingtakes over to ensure the formation of a raised ridge structure over theimage printed in energy-curable ink; and (d) curing to produce a stablepattern of raised resin profile ridges that follows the pattern ofprinted lines. Notably, the image and the lenticular lens arrangementare placed on opposite sides of the transparent substrate.

It will be appreciated that the approach of U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,872creates difficulties when combined with conventional image printing inthat a substrate is called upon to absorb both the inks or dyes used toform an image and the additional inks or dyes used to form the parallellines of repulsive material. This can create difficulties where theprinted image is printed using inks that inherently have some degree ofrepulsion, or where the inks or varnishes used to create the lines ofrepulsion interact with the inks used to form the image. Further thereis a danger of oversaturating the substrate with inks or varnishes.Thus, the use of such techniques with particular images must becarefully considered and the results for any given interaction are notnecessarily predictable.

It will also be appreciated that the aforementioned techniques generallyassume that the lenticular sheet is co-extensive with the entire area ofthe image. However, the needs for printing applications are verydifferent. For example, cost, weight, or other factors may cause apublisher to wish to avoid publishing entire pages of documents inlenticular form. Thus, for example, it may be useful to provide athree-dimensional or motion picture area as a part of a sheet or page ofa book, it is much less desirable to do so where such an image willoccupy an entire page.

Thus, there remains a need for a simple, flexible and efficient methodto create useful lenticular lens arrays that are correctly registered toa printed image. There is a further need for greater variety in theform, distribution and arrangement of micro-lenses of other types thatcan be used with co-designed printed images to provide micro-lensenhanced articles that provide particular visual effects and that can beformed in a reliable fashion using generally available commercialresources.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, according to one aspect of the present invention a micro-lensenhanced element comprises a substrate having a first surface with aplurality of sequences of at least two image elements printed on thefirst surface, a transparent layer having a proximate surfaceconfronting the printed image elements and a distal surface separatedfrom the proximate surface, a plurality of lenticular lenses formed ontothe distal surface with one lens formed over each sequence of at leasttwo image elements, wherein mutually adjacent lenticular lenses areseparated from one another by an ablatable low surface energy material.The lenticular lenses comprise a cured optically transparent fluid,which fluid can be a urethane acrylate oligomer. More particularly, theoptically transparent fluid can be a urethane acrylate oligomer with aplurality of acrylate sequences per oligomer molecule. The low surfaceenergy material can comprise a silicone compound, more particularly apolymethylsiloxane. The low surface energy material comprises aninfrared dye which can be a near infrared dye that has substantially noabsorption in the visible spectrum detectable by human eye. Moreparticularly the infrared dye can be a dye prepared by condensationreactions with 4,5-dihydroxy-4-cyclopentene-1,2,3-trione.

The micro-lens enhanced element of the present invention is made byprinting on a first surface of a suitable substrate a plurality ofsequences of at least two image elements. A transparent layer is thenprovided over the image strips followed by a layer of low surface energymaterial over the transparent layer. The layer of low surface energymaterial is imagewise ablated to form a pattern of low surface energystrips on the transparent layer. The resulting low surface energy stripsare between and proximate to consecutive sequences of image elements andseparated by a sequence of image elements. A plurality of micro-lensesare then formed on the exposed areas of the transparent layer by thedeposition of the optically transparent fluid, which naturally retractsfrom the low surface energy strips and balls up to develop a meniscus.The optically transparent fluid is then cured to create themicro-lenses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of theinvention:

FIG. 1A shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of amicro-lens enhanced element;

FIG. 1B shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.1A;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for making amicro-lens enhanced article;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram for one embodiment of a method of forming amicro-lens enhanced article;

FIG. 4A is a flow diagram for another method of forming a micro-lensenhanced article;

FIG. 4B is a flow diagram for another method of forming a micro-lensenhanced article;

FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of an apparatus for making a micro-lensenhanced article;

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of an apparatus for making a micro-lensenhanced article;

FIG. 7A shows, conceptually, one embodiment of a pattern of lenticularlenses in a uniform cubic close packed distribution;

FIG. 7B shows, conceptually, one embodiment of a pattern of lenticularlenses in an off-set square close packed array pattern;

FIG. 7C shows, conceptually, a pattern of lenticular lenses in ahexagonal close packed pattern;

FIGS. 8A-8C show different embodiments of different types ofmicro-lenses; and

FIGS. 9A-9C show cross-sectional views of different micro-lens enabledelements exhibiting non-limiting example embodiments of variousspherical and aspherical micro-lenses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth inorder to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention.However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. Inother instances, well known elements have not been shown or described indetail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, ratherthan a restrictive, sense.

FIG. 1A shows a fractional length of one embodiment of a micro-lensenhanced element 10 while FIG. 1B shows an exploded cross-sectional viewof the embodiment of FIG. 1A. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B,micro-lens enhanced element 10 has a substrate 20 with a first surface22 having an interlaced image 24 recorded on first surface 22.

Interlaced image 24 comprises a plurality of image elements 30 havingimage information from a first image interlaced with image elements 30having image information from at least a second image. In FIGS. 1A and1B, image elements 30 are shown in the form of interlaced image strips32 that are formed on first surface 22. Interlaced image strips 32 areorganized into sequences 34 of “n” image strips 32, with each sequence34 having one image strip representing image information from adifferent set of the images that is incorporated into interlaced image24. Similarly, where other forms of image elements 30 are used, suchother image elements will typically also be organized into sequences ofimage elements 30 with each sequence of image elements 30 having oneimage element that is derived or determined based upon each of theimages to be incorporated into an interlaced image. Methods fordetermining image information that is to be included in each individualimage element 30 and for determining the arrangements of image elements30 including the illustrated interlaced image strips 32 are known tothose of skill the art.

An example micro-lens enhanced element 10 is provided in FIGS. 1A and 1Band, in this example, interlaced image 24 includes sequences 34 of fourimage strips 32 that incorporate image information from four differentimages. The number of image strips 32 that are associated in a sequence34 of interlaced image strips 32 is hereinafter referred to as “n”purely for the sake of clarity. It will be appreciated that any “n” canbe any integer greater than one.

As will be described elsewhere herein, it will be assumed that amicro-lens enhanced element 10 will form interlaced image 24 using imageinformation from a plurality of “x” images by recording the “x” imagesusing the “n” image strips. However, it will also be understood thatthere are a large number of factors that influence the design of amicro-lens enhanced element 10, and that in some embodiments, the numbern of image strips 32 may differ from the number of images x to bepresented using the number of image strips. For example, the number ofimage strips n can be greater than the number of images x and, in suchembodiments, image information can be supplied to the additional imagestrips by interpolation from actual image information in adjacent imagestrips. Techniques for such interpolation are well known in the art.Similarly, under certain circumstances, the number of images x mayexceed the number of image strips n in a sequence and in such instancesimage information from particular images can be combined, selectivelyomitted or otherwise integrated using techniques well known in the artto provide desired image effects using the available number of imagestrips n.

As is also shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B, a transparentlayer 40 has a proximate surface 42 that is positioned confronting oragainst first surface 22 and that generally covers image strips 32.Transparent layer 40 also has a distal surface 44 that is separated fromproximate surface 42 by a thickness d. Transparent layer 40 can belaminated to, coated on, formed on or otherwise provided so thatproximate surface 42 is positioned against first surface 22 so thatlight that is modulated by image strips 32 passes directly intotransparent layer 40 at first surface 22.

A pattern of low surface energy material 50 is provided on distalsurface 44 of transparent layer 40. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and1B, the pattern of low surface energy material 50 takes the form of aplurality of low surface energy strips 52 that are aligned in parallelwith image strips 32 and are laterally separated by n image strips 32resulting in a plurality of low surface energy strips 52. Theprogression of image strips 32 from left to right in FIGS. 1A and 1B isin repetitive order, and the sequence repeats in the exact same orderafter every n image strips 32. Typically, low surface energy strips 52are made suitably narrow so that low surface energy strips 52 do notextend significantly over any given image strip 32 as compared with thetotal width of that image strip 32. In certain embodiments, adjacentsets of n image strips 32 can be separated by a small separation thatallows the placement of low surface energy strips 52 in areas that donot necessarily block the travel of light that has been modulated by anyof image strips 32, however this is not necessary.

Between each two spatially consecutive low surface energy strips 52 is astrip of substantially hemi-cylindrically shaped optically refractivematerial forming a lenticular type micro-lens 60 also referred to hereinas a lenticular lens 60. As is noted above, the use of the termlenticular lens 60 in this and other examples is exemplary only, and isnot limiting, as the techniques that are described herein can be used tomake other forms of lenticular micro-lenses 60. Micro-lens enhancedelement 10 comprises a plurality of images and image strips 32.Accordingly, this results in a plurality of lenticular lenses 60. Aswill be discussed in greater detail below, the shape of lenticularlenses 60 is defined by the interaction between a liquid micro-lensforming material comprising, for example, and without limitation, acurable high viscosity optically transparent printing fluid, transparentlayer 40, a gaseous environment into which the liquid micro-lens formingmaterial is injected and the low surface energy strips 52. Inparticular, the low surface energy strips 52 tend to resist the flow ofsuch liquid micro-lens forming material across the low surface energystrips 52. This traps the liquid micro-lens forming material between lowsurface energy strips 52 and, as is known, such trapped liquid materialsform a meniscus at a boundary between the low surface energy strips 52and a gaseous environment, which can be as simple as air or which cantake more complex forms of environment as desired.

Thus, lenticular lenses 60 formed in this fashion comprise a convexmeniscus of the cured micro-lens forming material. This convex meniscusis aligned with the low surface energy strips 52 to provide asubstantially cylindrically convex upper surface 62 with a radius ofcurvature or such other meniscus shaped surface as may be desiredincluding, but not limited to, aspheric shape. Lenticular lenses 60 alsohave lower surfaces 64 that are coplanar with transparent layer 40 andjoined thereto. Lower surfaces 64 have a lenticule base width w. Imagestrips 32 are on the same side of substrate 20 as lenticular lenses 60and transparent layer 40, such that images recorded in the image stripscan be viewed only when modified by lenticular lenses 60.

In the embodiment that is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the x imageson substrate 20 are interlaced as a sequence 34 of n image strips 32with each sequence being arranged within a lenticular lens base width w.As is illustrated in this embodiment, each sequence of image stripsincludes four image strips 32 and represents image information takenfrom four images. Thus, here the number of image strips n is four andthe number of images x is also four. The sequence of image strips 32repeats exactly within each lenticular base width w. In the embodimentof FIGS. 1A and 1B, each of the n image strips 32 in a lenticular lensbase width w is from a different one of the n images. Each repeatingsequence 34 of x image strips 32 is positioned under a separatelenticular lens 60 so that image strips 32 from any given image withinthe plurality are always at the same position with respect to thelenticular lens 60 they are positioned under. For any given lenticularlens 60 having other lenticular lenses 60 as neighbors on two sides, andthereby not being at and parallel to an edge of micro-lens enhancedelement 10, one image strip 32 from each of the plurality of interlacedimages is located substantially underneath the given lenticular lens 60.

The thickness d of transparent layer 40 and the radius of curvature r oflenticular lenses 60 are chosen to ensure that a viewer 68 at apredetermined viewing distance D above the surface will experience adesired lenticular imaging effect. Typically, this effect is provided byarranging the lenticular lenses 60 so that they direct light that hasbeen modulated by the imaging elements and that has passed through thethickness d of transparent layer 40 into one of plurality of differentportions 70, 72, of a viewing area 74 such that light that has beenmodulated by different image elements is viewable in different portionsof the viewing area. A wide variety of lenticular effects are known inthe art including, but not limited to, depth image effects providingparallax differences, image morphing, image zooming, image animation,image flipping effects, or any other desired lenticular imaging effect.To the extent that lenticular lenses 60 may not be perfectlycylindrical, an additional offset distance h, (not shown) related to thegeometric cross-sectional shape of lenticular lenses 60, can be allowedfor in choosing one of r and h if the other of r and h is known togetherwith viewing distance D and the refractive index of the micro-lensmaterial when set. Additional offset distance h is a mathematicalabstraction that is equivalent to a distance offset having units ofdistance, but does not represent a physical distance between two pointsthat can be indicated on the drawing. The formulae and calculations forcalculating h and for making such determinations and calculations arewell known to practitioners in the field.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method for making a micro-lensenhanced element 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, themethod comprises a first step which is the printing (step 130) of nimage elements 30 on substrate 20 to form interlaced image 24. In theembodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B, this is done with image strips 32 beinginterlaced as a sequence 34 of n image strips 32 per base width w ofeach lenticular lens 60 and with the sequence 34 of n image strips 32repeating exactly within each lenticular base width w, each of the nimage strips 32 in a lenticular base width w representing imageinformation from a different one or more of a plurality of x images.

The process of printing (step 130) interlaced image elements 30 cancomprise several steps, including, but not limited to, physical printingfollowed by anyone or more of the treatments of drying, heating andirradiating with actinic radiation to cure image strips 32, whichactinic radiation can be any one or more of infrared, visible, UV ore-beam. The inks used for printing interlaced image strips 32 can bechosen according to the actinic radiation that is preferred, if any,and/or any other desired property of the finished interlaced imagestrips 32. The printing techniques can be any process that will givegood adhesion to substrate 20 and can include any one of inkjetprinting, wet or waterless offset lithographic printing, gravureprinting, intaglio printing, electrophotographic printing and reliefprinting such as, but not limited to, flexographic printing, or thelike.

Transparent layer 40 is then coated or otherwise fabricated overinterlaced image 24 (step 140). Transparent layer 40 has a thickness dthat is determined based upon a desired viewing distance D, a refractiveindex of the material of transparent layer 40 when set, the refractiveindex of the material of lenticular lenses 60 when set, the predictedgeometric cross-sectional shape of lenticular lenses 60, and wellunderstood principles of lenticular image formation. The process ofcoating can comprise several steps, including, but not limited to,physical coating followed by any one or more of the treatments ofdrying, heating and irradiating with actinic radiation to curetransparent layer 40 either partially or completely, which actinicradiation can be any one or more of infrared, visible, UV or e-beam. Thematerial used for transparent layer 40 can be chosen according to theactinic radiation that is preferred and/or the refractive index that ispreferred or any other desired property of the finished transparentlayer 40. Suitable materials include those sold as overcoat varnishesfor printing. Preferred materials are those coatings which, afterapplication, can be cured or that can be more quickly cured when exposedto ultraviolet (UV) radiation or other forms of electro-magnetic orthermal energy. If necessary a small amount of filler such as silica maybe dispersed in the liquid to improve the surface for the furtherprocesses as described below, as long as the refractive index andcoating clarity are not adversely affected.

A pattern of low surface energy material 50 is then formed on the distalsurface 44 of transparent layer 40 to coincide with desired locationsfor the edges of the lenticular lenses 60. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1Aand 1B, this is achieved by a two step process. First a low surfaceenergy material layer 46 is coated (step 145) onto distal surface 44 oftransparent layer 40. This is followed by imagewise ablation (step 150)of the low surface energy material in the areas where low surface energystrips 52 are not required. The ablation is done so as to place lowsurface energy strips 52 parallel with the image strips and bracketingthe ends of the repeating sequences 34 of n image strips 32 such thatthe first image strip 32 in any sequence 34 of n image strips 32 isalways proximate and in the same relative position with respect to a lowsurface energy strip 52. The imagewise ablation (step 150) of layer 46can be performed with an infrared laser ablation head, examples ofsuitable power being manufactured by Eastman Kodak Company. Since theinfrared ablation head and the printer used for printing image strips 32can both registered to substrate 20, it will be appreciated that lowsurface energy strips 52 can accurately be registered to the imagestrips 32. The pattern of low surface energy material 50 can thereforebe formed in registration with a grouping of the image elements 30.

The process of coating (step 145) layer 46 can comprise several stepsincluding, but not limited to, physical coating followed by any one ormore of the treatments of drying, heating and irradiating with actinicradiation to cure low surface energy material 50, which actinicradiation can be any one or more of infrared, visible, UV or e-beam.

Low surface energy materials employed in pattern of low surface energymaterial 50 can take any of a variety of forms. In one non-limitingexample, the low surface energy material includes a hydroxy-modifiedpolyether silane. Any other known substantially transparent ablatablematerial having suitably low surface energy can also be used for patternof low surface energy material 50. Low surface energy material forpattern of low surface energy material 50 can be chosen according to theactinic radiation, UV, infrared, e-beam or other, that is preferredand/or any other desired property of the finished low surface energystrips 52. Preferred low surface energy materials include, but are notlimited to, silicone resin precursors and can be UV curable or can besolvent based. Preferred types of silicone pre-polymer solutionscomprise a condensation system where the resulting polymeric layer ispolydimethyl siloxane. One non-limiting example of a suitable coatableand ablatable low surface energy materials formulation is provided byU.S. Pat. No. 6,298,780 (Ben-Florin).

The polydimethyl siloxane based formulation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,780,however, employs Nigrosene dye as infrared absorber. Nigrosene is ablack dye. For the present invention, the ablatable low surface energylayer 46 is ideally transparent in the visible range, and henceNigrosene is replaced with an infrared absorbing dye that has littleabsorption in the visible range and adequate absorption in the infraredrange of the laser ablation head 262 (see FIG. 5). Suitable dyesinclude, but are not limited to, near-infrared-absorbing dyes preparedby condensation reactions with 4,5-dihydroxy-4-cyclopentene-1,2,3-trione(croconic acid) described by Simard et al. in J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65,pp. 2236-2238, the oxygen-based variant with absorption peak at 845 nmbeing preferred. This dye has an absorption peak at 845 nm, which isclose to the 830 nm emission peak of the typical diode lasers in a KodakTrendsetter infrared laser head, and shows little absorption in theoptical spectrum visible to the human eye. Squarylium dyes derived fromthe condensation of 2-methyl- and 4-methyl-chalcogenopyrylium salts with3,4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione (squaric acid), as described inthe same work by Simard et al., are also useful for the same reasons,the dye of this form based on selenium and having peak absorption at 847nm being particularly well suited to the task. Combinations of dyes inthese croconic and squaric acid based families can be used to increaseabsorption at the emission wavelength of the laser diodes of the laserablation head. Cyanine dyes exist that are better matched to the 830 nmemission wavelength and can be used, provided the slight visible rangeabsorption of these dyes are tolerable or manageable to the user.

Lenticular micro-lenses 60 are formed on those parts of the surface oftransparent layer 40 from which optically transparent layer of lowsurface energy material 46 has been ablated (step 160). The forming oflenticular lenses 60 can comprise several combinations of differentsteps which will now be outlined.

One embodiment of this is shown in FIG. 3, wherein the forming (step160) of micro-lenses 60 comprises the step of coating (step 162)micro-lens material over the distal surface 44 and pattern of lowsurface energy material resulting from the ablation (step 150) oftransparent layer 46 on distal surface 44 of transparent layer 40. Themicro-lens material does not bond with the material of low surfaceenergy strips 52 and retracts from strips 52 to reside exclusively onthe exposed areas of distal surface 44 of transparent layer 40, whereadhesion to transparent layer 40 causes the micro-lens material soresiding to develop a curved surface that is determined by the convexmeniscus of the uncured micro-lens material. In this way, lenticularlenses 60 are formed in a pattern that is defined by the pattern of lowsurface energy material 50. This may be followed by any one or more ofthe treatments (step 164) of drying, heating and irradiating withactinic radiation to cure the material of the lenticular lenses, whichactinic radiation can be any one or more of infrared, visible, UV ore-beam. The micro-lens material can be chosen according to the actinicradiation that is preferred and/or the refractive index that ispreferred or any other desired property of the finished lenticularlenses 60. The preferred materials will be 100% solids, generallyoptically transparent and preferably solidified after application ofsuitable actinic radiation.

Micro-lens material can take any of a variety of forms. In oneembodiment, the micro-lens material can be an optically transparent UVcurable printing fluid comprising an ultra-violet curable polymerizablematerial and a photo initiator. In this embodiment, the polymerizablematerial comprises a monomer and an oligomer. The monomer is chosen fromthe sequence including, but not limited to octyl/decyl acrylate,phenoxyethyl acrylate, isobornyl acrylate and triethylene glycoldiacrylate. For example, and without limitation, the oligomer of thisembodiment can be an acrylic oligomer such as a urethane oligomer with aplurality of acrylate sequences per oligomer molecule. In someembodiments, the acrylic oligomer can have two to four acrylatesequences per oligomer molecule. Examples of suitable commercialurethane oligomers with two to four acrylate sequences per oligomermolecule include, but are not limited to, Ebecryl EB270, Ebecryl EB 230and Ebecryl EB210 (all from Daicel-UCB of Tokyo, Japan), as well asCraynor CN970, Craynor CN971, and Craynor CN972 (all from Sartomer ofExton, Pa., U.S.A.). The photoinitiator is preferably selected fromamong the sequence consisting of isopropylthioxanthone,4-benzoyl-4′-methyl diphenyl sulphide,1-Hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone,2-Methyl-1-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-2-morpholinopropanone-1,1-(4-Dodecylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propane-1-oneand dibutoxyacetophenone hydroxymethyl phenylpropane-1-one. No initiatoris required for the case of materials to be irradiated with e-beam. Theviscosity of the material can be adjusted to suit the particularprinting method and to obtain a desired meniscus radius of curvature ofthe coated materials.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 4A, theforming of micro-lenses (step 160) comprises the steps of printing (step166) micro-lens material only on those parts of transparent layer 40where low surface energy strips 52 are not present. Due to the lowsurface energy of low surface energy strips 52, the micro-lens materialdoes not bond with low surface energy strips 52 and any micro-lensmaterial in contact with low surface energy strips 52 retracts from lowsurface energy strips 52 to reside exclusively on the exposed areas ofthe surface of transparent layer 40, where adhesion to transparent layer40 causes the micro-lens material so residing to develop a curvedsurface that is determined by the convex meniscus of the uncuredmicro-lens material.

As is illustrated, step 166 can be followed by one or more of any of thetreatments of drying, heating and irradiating with actinic radiation tocure the materials of lenticular lenses 60, which actinic radiation canbe any one or more of infrared, visible, UV or e-beam (step 168). Theuncured micro-lens material can be chosen according to the actinicradiation that is preferred and/or the refractive index that ispreferred or any other desired property of the finished lenticularlenses 60.

The uncured micro-lens material can be an optically transparent UVcurable printing fluid including, but not limited to, a curable inkjetmaterial and can comprise an ultra-violet curable polymerizable materialand a photoinitiator; wherein the viscosity of the composition isbetween 2 poise and 30 centipoise. Preferably the polymerizable materialcomprises a monomer and an oligomer. The monomer can be chosen from thesequence including, but not limited to octyl/decyl acrylate,phenoxyethyl acrylate, isobornyl acrylate and triethylene glycoldiacrylate. Preferably the oligomer is an acrylic oligomer. The oligomercan also be a urethane oligomer with a plurality of acrylate sequencesper oligomer molecule. The acrylic oligomer can have, for example, twoto four acrylate sequences per oligomer molecule. Examples of suitablecommercial urethane oligomers with two to four acrylate sequences peroligomer molecule include, but are not limited to, Ebecryl EB270,Ebecryl EB 230 and Ebecryl EB210 (all from Daicel-UCB of Tokyo, Japan),as well as Craynor CN970, Craynor CN971, and Craynor CN972 (all fromSartomer of Exton, Pa., U.S.A.). The photoinitiator is preferablyselected from among the sequence consisting of isopropylthioxanthone,4-benzoyl-4′-methyl diphenyl sulphide,1-Hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone,2-Methyl-1-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-2-morpholinopropanone-1,1-(4-Dodecylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propane-1-oneand dibutoxyacetophenone hydroxymethyl phenylpropane-1-one. No initiatoris required for the case of materials to be irradiated with e-beam. Theviscosity of the material can be adjusted to suit the particular coatingmethod and to obtain a desired meniscus radius of curvature of thecoated materials.

The technologies for applying a micro-lens material to distal surface 44and the pattern of low surface energy material 50 are not limited tocoating or printing technologies, and can include any of technologiesthat are capable of depositing requisite amounts of material with verygood accuracy and can include, but are not limited to, inkjet printingand air brushing.

In a further embodiment, shown in FIG. 4B, the steps 166 and 168 areperformed as discussed above with reference to FIG. 4A. Further, as isshown in FIG. 4B, an additional step of modifying the viscosity of themicro-lens material (step 167) is performed before printing (step 166)the micro-lens material onto transparent layer 40. This modification canbe done such that an easily printable viscosity form of micro-lensmaterial can be used during printing, and converted into a differentviscosity material for use in forming lenticular micro-lenses 60. Thiscan be done by at least one of partially drying and heating andirradiating (step 167) with actinic radiation the micro-lens material ona suitable transfer surface. Examples of a suitable transfer surfaceinclude, but are not limited to, an offset blanket roller, the kind oftransfer surface described in commonly-assigned U.S. ApplicationPublication No. 2008/0302262 (Pinto et al.), as well as the transfersurface arrangements described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,331 (Gelbart), andU.S. Pat. No. 6,755,519 (Gelbart et al.), both of which,commonly-assigned patents, describe inkjet-based systems for modifyinginks on transfer surfaces using variously heating, drying andultra-violet irradiation of inks to change their viscosity, each ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 5 shows one example of a micro-lens enhanced printing system 200that is capable of making a micro-lens enhanced element using at leastone of the embodiments of the method described above. In the apparatusshown in FIG. 5, a micro-lens enhanced system 200 comprises aninterlaced image printing subsystem 230, a transparent layer coatingsubsystem 240, a low surface energy material coating subsystem 250, anablation subsystem 260 and micro-lens material application subsystem270, all arranged in series to create a micro-lens enhanced element 10of the type shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B by deposition of fluids viaprinting or coating suitable images and layers onto substrate 20 movingin direction 220. Each of subsystems 230, 240, 250, and 270 respectivelycomprises, in this embodiment, a printing or coating unit, schematicallyrepresented as a “black box” 232, 242, 252, and 272 respectively, and acompression roller 238, 248, 258, and 278. Ablation subsystem 260comprises laser ablation head, shown as a “black box” 262 andcompression roller 268. Substrate 20 is illustrated as being moved overcompression rollers 238, 248, 258, 268, and 278 in direction 220.However, other forms of conveyance known to those of skill in the artcan be used. Each of the subsystems 230, 240, 250, 260, and 270 will nowbe described in greater detail in turn.

Interlaced image printing subsystem 230 can be any commercial printingsystem including, but not limited to, an inkjet printing system, a wetor waterless offset lithographic printing system, a gravure printingsystem, an intaglio printing system, a electrophotographic printingsystem or a relief printing system such as, but not limited to, aflexographic printing system, or the like. The requirement on interlacedimage printing subsystem 230 is that it be able to print n interlacedimages, in registration with any pattern of low surface energy material50 formed by ablation subsystem 260 and micro-lens material applicationsubsystem 270.

This is best done by registering the printhead of image printingsubsystem 230 to substrate 20. This may be done using fiduciary marks(not shown) on substrate 20. A variety of registration systems have beendescribed in the art and one of ordinary skill in the art will becapable of selecting one of such registration systems and of applying itto the purposes that are described herein.

Transparent layer coating subsystem 240 can be any coating systemcapable of coating a layer of liquid material to a thickness that formsa transparent layer 40 having a thickness d after printing. Thickness dis derived from a desired viewing distance, the refractive index of thematerial of transparent layer 40 when set, the refractive index of thematerial of lenticular lens 60 when set, the predicted geometriccross-sectional shape of lenticular lens 60, and well known principlesof lenticular image optics. Several such systems are in existence andhave been described in the art. Suitable coating subsystems include, butare not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,505(Bargenquest et al.). To the extent that larger lenticular lensesrequire larger thicknesses for transparent layer 40 of micro-lensenhanced element 10, a transparent layer coating subsystem 240 of thetype described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,505 is capable of producingthicker layers of materials than those usually produced on presses andcoating machines.

Low surface energy material coating subsystem 250 can be any coatingsystem capable of coating a layer of liquid material to a thicknesssuitable for forming the pattern of low surface energy material 50.Several such systems are in existence and have been described in theart.

Laser ablation head 262 of ablation subsystem 260 can be any commerciallaser ablation head such as, but not limited to, those manufactured byEastman Kodak Company of Rochester, N.Y., U.S.A. and formerly by CREO ofVancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In this embodiment, a requirementof laser ablation head 252 is that it be able to ablate low surfaceenergy material layer 46 to form pattern of low surface energy material50 in registration with any printing done by interlaced image printingsubsystem 230 and micro-lens material application subsystem 270. This isbest done by registering the laser ablation head 262 to substrate 20.This may be done using fiduciary marks (not shown) on substrate 20 or bydetecting features of printing performed during previous printing steps,or by detecting features of substrate 20. As noted above, a variety ofregistration systems have been described in the art and one of ordinaryskill in the art will be capable of selecting one of such registrationsystems and of applying it to the purposes that are described herein.

Micro-lens material application subsystem 270 can be any commercialprinting or other fluidic material delivery system capable of imagewisetransferring a large enough volume of micro-lens material as requiredfor the formation of a desired micro-lens such as lenticular lenses 60in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Micro-lens material application subsystem 270 caninclude, but is not limited to, an inkjet printing system and an airbrushing system or the like. Where lenticular lenses 60 are continuousstructures in one dimension across transparent layer 40, inkjetting canbe performed at a high deposition rate in that direction. One desirablefeature of micro-lens material application subsystem 270 is that it beable to apply lenticular lens material in registration with any ablationdone by laser ablation head 262 and interlaced image printing subsystem230. This is best done by registering the printhead of micro-lensmaterial application subsystem 260 to substrate 20. This may be doneusing fiduciary marks (not shown) on substrate 20. A variety ofregistration systems have been described in the art and one of ordinaryskill in the art will be capable of selecting one of such registrationsystems and of applying it to the purposes that are described herein.

Any one or more of subsystems 230, 240, 250, and 270 can furthercomprise a drying, heating and or irradiation subsystem (not separatelyshown in FIG. 5). Such a drying, heating or irradiation subsystem can beused to assure suitable throughput of micro-lens enhanced system 200 asa whole. The printed and coated images and structures produced bysubsystems 230, 240, 250, and 270 can be post-deposition treated bydrying, heating and or irradiation with the drying, heating and orirradiation subsystems respectively, before proceeding to a followingsubsystem or further process beyond micro-lens enhanced system 200.Suitable drying, heating and irradiation systems have been described inthe art and will not be further dwelt upon here.

Micro-lens material application subsystem 270 can additionally comprisea transfer surface drying, heating or irradiation subsystem forpartially drying or for heating or irradiating the micro-lens materialwhile it resides on a transfer surface and before being applied tosubstrate 20, thereby changing the viscosity of the micro-lens material.This provides an additional mechanism to manage the cross-sectionalshape of the lenticular lenses. In the present specification the term“micro-lens material modification system” is used to describe such atransfer surface drying, heating or irradiation subsystem.

One particular system employing such a transfer surface is thatdescribed in U.S. Application Publication No. 2008/0302262, whichdescribes a transfer surface of a direct printing device comprising aplurality of cavities. Each cavity is designed to store sufficientliquid, to print on a specified area of a substrate. The liquid isloaded on the printing surface by, for example, an anilox roller. Afterbeing loaded, the liquid is imagewise modified to change the liquidaffinity to transparent layer 40 or to the transfer surface. After themodification two forms of liquid, being micro-lens material in thepresent case, will coexist on the transfer surface; a material that willremain on the transfer surface after imaging, and a material that willtransfer from the printing surface onto transparent layer 40. Othersuitable transfer surface arrangements are described incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,331 (Gelbart), and U.S. Pat. No.6,755,519 (Gelbart et al.), both of which describe inkjet-based systemsfor modifying inks on transfer surfaces using variously heating, dryingand ultra-violet irradiation of inks to change their viscosity.Micro-lens material application subsystem 270 can be an ink-jet printingsystem comprising the transfer surface arrangements of either of thesetwo patents.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of an apparatus for making a micro-lensenhanced element using at least one of the methods described herein.

The apparatus comprises a micro-lens material coating subsystem 370 forthe forming of lenticular lenses (step 160) that is adapted to coat alayer of (162) micro-lens material over an entire portion of distalsurface 44 resulting from the ablation (step 150) of low surfacematerial layer 46 on the surface of transparent layer 40. In FIG. 6,lenticular element printing system 300 comprises an interlaced imageprinting subsystem 230 as described before, a transparent layer coatingsubsystem 240 as described before, low surface energy material coatingsubsystem 250 as described before, ablation subsystem 260 as describedbefore, and a micro-lens material coating subsystem 370, all arranged inseries to create a micro-lens enhanced element of the type shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B by deposition of fluids via printing or coating suitableimages and layers onto substrate 20 moving in direction 220. Each ofsubsystems 230, 240, 250 and 370 is respectively comprised of a printingor coating unit, schematically represented as a black box 232, 242, 252,and 372 respectively, and a compression roller 238, 248, 258 and 378.Ablation system 260 comprises laser ablation head, shown as a “blackbox” 262 and compression roller 268. As above, substrate 20 moves overcompression rollers 238, 248, 258, 268, and 378 in direction 220.

Micro-lens material coating subsystem 370 can be any coating systemcapable of coating a layer of liquid micro-lens material sufficient toform a desired thickness of micro-lens material. Several such systemsare in existence and have been described in the art. Suitable coatingsubsystems include, but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,908,505 (Bargenquest et al.). To the extent that larger lenticularlenses require larger amounts of material to be transferred, micro-lenscoating subsystem 370 can be of the type described in U.S. Pat. No.5,908,505. The degree to which the printing method employed inmicro-lens material coating subsystem 370 can transfer micro-lensmaterial and can control that transfer is important, as it determinesthe quality of the lens. The choice of technology and choice ofmicro-lens material is therefore important.

Any one or more of subsystems 230, 240, 250, and 370 can furthercomprise a drying, heating and or irradiation subsystem (not shown). Inorder to assure suitable throughput of lenticular element printingsystem 300 as a whole, the printed and coated images and structuresproduced by subsystems 230, 240, 250 and 370 can be post-depositiontreated by drying, heating and or irradiation with the drying, heatingand or irradiation subsystems respectively, before proceeding to afollowing subsystem or further process beyond lenticular elementprinting system 300. Suitable drying, heating and irradiation systemshave been described in the art and will not be further dwelt upon here.

In the foregoing discussion, lenticular micro-lenses 60 have beengenerally described as being cylindrical portion micro-lenses that havethe shape and cross-section of a portion of a cylinder. However, it willbe appreciated that various configurations of lenticular micro-lenses 60can be used including but not limited to, a micro-lens enhanced element10 having an a cylindrical portion lenticular element with a shape andcross-section of a flattened or elongated cylinder, or having such otheraspheric shapes as are known in the lens making arts.

As is noted generally above, in other embodiments, the techniques thatare described above can be used, for example, to provide a micro-lensenhanced element 10 having a pattern of low surface energy material 50that causes the lenticular material to form micro-lenses other thanlenticular lens type micro-lenses. For example, FIG. 7A showsconceptually, a pattern of lenticular lenses 60 that are formed within auniform cubic close packed distribution pattern of low surface energymaterial 50 on a distal surface 44. It will be appreciated that otherpatterns of low surface energy material 50 can be used. For example,FIG. 7B shows an embodiment having an off-set square close packed arraypattern. However, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 7C, lenticularmicro-lenses 60 are arranged in a hexagonal close packed pattern of lowsurface energy material 50.

As is shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C lenticular micro-lenses 60 can bemade with individual ones of the lenses having different opticalcharacteristics. In the embodiment of FIG. 8A, lenticular typecylindrical micro-lenses 60 a and 60 b are formed having differentwidths. As is shown in FIG. 8A, pattern of low surface energy material50 defines parallel lines that have separations that are different, thusforming a first set of lenticular micro-lenses 60 a that have a greatercross-section area than a second set of lenticular micro-lenses 60 b.This can be done for example and without limitation to incorporate moreimage strips 32 per lenticular lens 60 a than are incorporated inassociation with lenticular lenses 60 b. This can be used, for example,to provide more information or different information for presentation orto provide a different viewing distance for the image information.

Similarly, FIGS. 8B and 8C each show a pattern of low surface energymaterial 50 that is used to form differently sized sets of micro-lenses60 a and 60 b.

As is also shown in FIG. 8C, the surface coverage of lenticularmicro-lenses 60 a and 60 b does not have to be maximized. While anyuseful surface coverage of micro-lenses 60 a and 60 b can be employed,the ratio of the area of the micro-lenses 60 a and 60 b to the area ofdistal surface 44, can be at least 20 percent. In one embodiment, thecoverage can be between at least 50 percent and up to 85 percent. Inanother embodiment, surface coverage of 85 percent up to theclose-packed limit can be used. The precise degree of surface coveragecan be adjusted to enable varying levels of micro-lens coverage as isnecessary to support the disclosure.

FIGS. 9A-9C show cross-sectional views of different micro-lens enhancedelements 10 exhibiting non-limiting example embodiments of variousspherical and aspherical lenticular micro-lenses 60. FIG. 9A shows anembodiment wherein lenticular micro-lenses 60 comprise hemisphericallenses. FIGS. 9B and 9C show embodiments of micro-lens enhanced elements10 having aspherical lenticular micro-lenses 60. Any of the abovedescribed array patterns can be defined in a manner that causesaspherical lenticular micro-lenses 60 to be formed. Further, any of thepatterns of lenticular micro-lenses 60 can be applied in a non-closepacked manner. As is known in the art, lenticular micro-lenses 60 thathave a non-cylindrical form will direct light to different viewing areasalong multiple axes.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference tocertain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the scope of theinvention.

PARTS LIST

-   10 micro-lens enhanced element-   20 substrate-   22 first surface-   24 interlaced image-   30 image elements-   32 image strips-   34 image strip sequence-   40 transparent layer-   42 proximate surface-   44 distal surface-   46 low surface energy material layer-   50 pattern of low surface energy material-   52 low surface energy strip-   60 lenticular micro-lens (lenticular lens)-   60 a first set of lenticular micro-lenses-   60 b second set of lenticular micro-lenses-   62 upper surface-   64 lower surface-   68 viewer-   70 plurality of different portions-   72 plurality of different portions-   74 viewing area-   130 printing interlaced image elements on substrate-   140 coating transparent layer over interlaced image elements-   145 coating optically transparent layer of low surface energy    material-   150 imagewise ablating low surface energy material-   160 forming micro-lenses on areas of transparent layer from which    low surface-   energy material has been ablated-   162 coating micro-lens material over distal surface-   164 drying, heating or irradiation with actinic radiation of    micro-lens material-   166 printing micro-lens material on areas of optically transparent    layer from which low surface energy material has been ablated-   167 modifying the viscosity of the micro-lens material-   168 drying, heating or irradiation with actinic radiation of    micro-lens material-   200 micro-lens enhanced system-   220 direction of motion of substrate-   230 interlaced image printing subsystem-   232 printing/coating unit-   238 compression roller-   240 transparent layer coating subsystem-   242 printing/coating unit-   248 compression roller-   250 low surface energy material coating subsystem-   252 printing/coating unit-   258 compression roller-   260 ablation subsystem-   262 laser ablation head-   268 compression roller-   270 micro-lens material application subsystem-   272 printing/coating unit-   278 compression roller-   300 lenticular element printing system-   370 micro-lens material coating subsystem-   372 printing/coating unit-   378 compression roller

1. A micro-lens enhanced element comprising: a substrate having a firstsurface; a plurality of sequences of at least two image elements printedon the first surface, each sequence containing image elements from morethan one image; a transparent layer having a proximate surfaceconfronting the printed image elements and a distal surface separatedfrom the proximate surface; a plurality of micro-lenses formed onto thedistal surface, one lens formed over each sequence of at least two imageelements and wherein mutually adjacent micro-lens are separated from oneanother by an ablatable low surface energy material.
 2. The micro-lensenhanced element of claim 1, wherein the micro-lenses comprise a curedoptically transparent fluid.
 3. The micro-lens enhanced element of claim2, wherein the optically transparent fluid comprises an oligomer.
 4. Themicro-lens enhanced element of claim 3, wherein the oligomer is aurethane acrylate oligomer.
 5. The micro-lens enhanced element of claim4, wherein the urethane acrylate oligomer has a plurality of acrylatesequences per oligomer molecule.
 6. The micro-lens enhanced element ofclaim 1, wherein the low surface energy material comprises a siliconecompound.
 7. The micro-lens enhanced element of claim 6, wherein thesilicone compound is polymethyl siloxane.
 8. The micro-lens enhancedelement of claim 1, wherein the low surface energy material comprises aninfrared dye.
 9. The micro-lens enhanced element of claim 8, wherein thenear infrared dye has substantially no absorption in the visiblespectrum detectable by human eye.
 10. The micro-lens enhanced element ofclaim 9, wherein the infrared dye comprises a near-infrared-absorbingdye prepared by condensation reactions with4,5-dihydroxy-4-cyclopentene-1,2,3-trione.
 11. A lenticular elementcomprising: a substrate having a first surface; a plurality of sequencesof at least two image strips on said first surface, each sequencecontaining image strips from more than one image; a plurality oflenticular lenses with each lens having a base surface positioned toreceive light that has been modulated by one of the plurality ofsequences of the image strips; a curved surface determined by a convexmeniscus extending from a first low surface energy strip that is alignedwith an edge of one of the sequences of at least two image strips to asecond low surface energy strip that is aligned with another edge of theone of the sequences of at least two image strips, and wherein mutuallyadjacent lenticular lenses are separated from one another by anablatable low surface energy material; and wherein the low surfaceenergy material comprises a near infrared dye.
 12. The lenticularelement of claim 11, wherein the plurality of lenticular lenses islocated on the same side of the first surface as the image strips. 13.The lenticular element of claim 11, comprising a coated transparentlayer between the image strips and the plurality of lenticular lenses.14. The lenticular element of claim 11, wherein the convex meniscus is ameniscus of a cured optically transparent fluid.
 15. The lenticularelement of claim 11, wherein the convex meniscus is a meniscus of acured fluid form of a lenticule forming material comprising an oligomer.16. The lenticular element of claim 15, wherein the oligomer is aurethane acrylate oligomer.
 17. The lenticular element of claim 16,wherein the urethane acrylate oligomer has a plurality of acrylatesequences per oligomer molecule.
 18. The micro-lens enhanced element ofclaim 11, wherein the near infrared dye has substantially no absorptionin the visible spectrum detectable by human eye.
 19. The micro-lensenhanced element of claim 11, wherein the near infrared dye comprises adye prepared by condensation reactions with4,5-dihydroxy-4-cyclopentene-1,2,3-trione.